Extending the Life of Your Car

With economy in, well, shambles, there are a lot of people that would like, or need a new car, but lack the means to get one. Either nobody will finance a vehicle for them, or they can't get enough value for their current vehicle, or they're worried about losing their job and don't want to get stuck with a car payment (which many car companies are helping with). So what are they to do when they can't get a new car, but their current car is starting to show some age? Get a car cover!

Car covers are an excellent way to extend the life of your current vehicle until you can get something newer, or to prevent a new car from showing age any sooner than it must. Here are a few things that car covers can do to help extend the life of your current vehicle and the next one you're finally able to get.

Preserve the Paint/Finish

Your car's paint and finish gets exposed to a lot of different things – sunlight, rain, snow, pollen, dust, and other things, all of which can wear on the paint job. Keeping vehicles under car covers allows for the paint to only be exposed to these elements when it's actually being driven, as opposed to when it's just sitting in your driveway or on the street. Car covers are especially useful if your car will be sitting for an extended period of time, say during the winter, or during a long vacation. Car covers help protect it against the elements that can be damaging to your car's finish during these dormant periods.

Prevent Minor Elemental Damage

Keep in mind, having your car under a cover will of course, not prevent damage from softball sized hail raining down on it. That being said, a car cover can prevent or at least lessen the damage that small hail, sleet, or snow can cause on your car's paint and body in general. While dents may still occur from impact, scratches may be prevented thanks to the protection a car cover can offer. Again, a car cover is no substitute for a garage against major elemental damage, but it can provide some cover against lighter things.

Keep Dust Away in a Garage

For anybody out there with a car they keep in the garage for extended periods of time, keeping a car cover on it is a great way to keep dust from settling on the car and possibly intothe upholstery. This is especially important for anybody keeping a classic car in a garage, but whether you've got a '67 Volkswagen Beetle or a '97 Nissan Sentra, keeping the dustoff your car is a good way to extend the life of it.

Protection Against Animals

Again, car covers will not protect your car if a deer decides that running into your car is a good idea. But everything from bird droppings to stray animals deciding to walk over your car (stray cats & raccoons for example) can have an impact on your car's look. Keeping a car cover on at night is a good way to keep bird droppings from sitting on your car until you have a chance to wash it, and keeps muddy little cat prints from finding their way up the hood.

Protecting Your Ride

Any of these reasons are good ones for getting a car cover to extend the life of your vehicle, which can either prevent you from having to buy a new car or at least prolong the time until you have to make the change to a new car (which should also be kept under a car cover). Either way, keeping your car under a cover, along with regular washing and detailing, can extend the life of your car for years.